Dispensing device for packaging cartons



Nov. 21, 1961 O, NNNNN EN 3,009,609

United States Patent Ofiice 3,009,609 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 I 3,009,609 DISPENSING DEVICE FOR PACKAGING H CARTONS Orla Nielsen, 1133 Front St., Vestal, N.Y. Filed July 7, 1959, Ser. No. 825,548 2 Claims. (Cl. 222 456) This invention relates to dispensng devices and, more particularly, to an attachment for use with conventional packaging cartons containing granular material, such as soap powder.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a dispensing device which may be easily and firmly attached to conventional, oblong packaging containers.

A particular feature of the invention is that the dispensing device constructed in accordance therewith engages not only outer sides of a carton but also an inner side, thereby forming a very strong attachment.

Another feature of the invention is that the dispensing device lends itself to mass production at relatively low cost, being so designed as to be molded from vinyl plastic or similar materials.

Other objects and features will be apparent from the following description of the invention, pointed out in particularity in the appended claims, and taken in connection with the accompanyng drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing attachment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a simple, oblong packaging carton having the conventional scored flap which, upon inward pressure, tears to form an Opening;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing attachment in a position ready for insertion into the Opening provided by the torn flap of the carton;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view, in perspective, of the dispensing device attached to the carton;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 except that the carton is turned upside down to fill the dispenser; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton and the dispenser attached thereto in a downward position for emptying the contents thereof.

Referring to the figures, it is seen in FIG. l that the dispensing attachment consists of a generally cup-shaped portion 10 having a pair of parallel, laterally-extending walls 11 and 12 tangential to the periphery of the cup 10. The walls 11 and 12 form a U-shaped extension of the cup 10 and are spaced at a distance to permit opposite side walls A and B of the carton E to fit snugly therebetween.

A ledge 13 between the walls 11 and 12 fonns an extension around the rim of the cup i10 and terminates in a lip 14 extending parallel to the walls 11 and 12. Both walls 11 and 12 have an inwardly-extending cross member 15 and 16, respectively, in the direction parallel to the ledge 113 and spaced above the latter, thereby providing an opening to accommodate the thickness of the top D of the carton E.

The cross member 15 has a wall 17 which engages the ledge 13 and, similarly, the cross member 16 has a wall 18 engatging the ledge 13. The walls 17 and 18, together with the cross members 15 and 16, form a recess which determines the extent of insertion of the device into the carton E by forming an abutment to engage the side C thereof.

The attachment of the device shown in FIG. 1 is very simple and can be seen from the illustrations of the figures. The packaging container E bas shown in FIG. 2 is of a type widely used for merchandising granular material which may be soap, sugar, or other substances. These containers are essentially made of paperboard and have an oblong shape with one narroW upright side, such as C, scored along the line F which, upon inward pressure, may easily be torn allowing the flap G to be pressed in.

It is difficult to pour out some of the contents of the carton with the flap G pressed in, inasmuch as it has the -tendency to close the opening due to outward pressure exerted on it by the contents accumulated behind the flap G as the carton E is tipped. For this reason, the flap G is generally used as a holding means for tearing off a portion of the top D, whereby a large Opening is provided exposing most of the contents. From such an Opening it is impossible to dispense measured amounts unless an auxiliary measuring cup is used. This presents an inconvenient dispensing method which very few users are inclined to follow so that material is unnecessarily wasted. Aside from that, a carton with a partially torn top will spill most of the contents thereof when it is accidentally tipped over.

As will be seen from the description to follow, in using the dispensing attachment in accordance with the invention, the flap G need not be removed nor used for tearing olf the top D of the carton. Once it is pressed in along the score line F, it may remain inside the carton and will be held out of the Way.

In FIG. 3, the carton E is shown with the Opening provided by -the bent-in flap and the dispensing attachment in position to be placed over the carton E in such a manner that the lip 14 engages the inner side of the top D of -the carton E, thereby holding the flap G against this side. The side walls 11 and 12 engage the respective Sides A and B of the carton.

The space between the lip 14 and the cross members 15 and 16 is suiiciently narrow to provide a tight gripping by these members of the top D of the carton E on both the outer and inner faces thereof so that the dspensing device is held firmly on the corner of the carton. The walls 17 and 18 abut against the front wall C guarding against sliding the attachment over the top D beyond the proper distance. Thus there is unrestricted communication between the Opening in the side C of the carton E and the cup 10. The device attached to the carton E is shown in FIG. 4.

In order to fill the cup of the dispenser, the carton E is simply turned upside down as seen in FIG. 5. In this position, the contents will pour into the cup-shaped portion of the attachment, thereby giving a measured quantity of the contents for its intended use. To empty the dispensing attachment, the carton E is returned to upright position as seen in FIGURE 16 over the area where the contents are to be dispensed such as, for example, a wash tub in the event the carton contains soap.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device for rectangularly shaped packaging cartons containing a granular material and having a scored flap in one side for providing an Opening, said device being formed in its entirety of a single piece of material and comprising a cup having one end completely open and the other end completely closed, and attaching means comprising two parallel rectangular side walls adjacent the open end of said cup, tangential to said cup and spaced from each other a distance to engage the outer surface of the side walls of the carton, the outer ends of the Walls being free, each of said rectangular side walls being provided with a projection at right angles thereto projecting -toward and spaced from each other, said projections being adapted to contact the outside surface of the top wall of the carton, and said projections extending from the free ends of the walls toward the cup and terminating short of the cup, a tongue positioned in vertically spaced relation to the projections in vertical alignrnent with the space between the projections, said tongue being adapted to engage the inside surface of the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller Sept. 13, 1927 Vail Feb. 8, 1938 Brooke et al. May 22, 1951 Persons Sept. 9, 1952 Matter Aug. 11, 1959 

